The Jeep Renegade made its debut at the 2014 Geneva motor show with a new proposition for a compact off-roader that was equally at home in the urban environment. This ‘baby Jeep’ — made in Italy for sale in a hundred countries — is a tangible result from the new American-Italian Fiat-Chrysler Group.
Although we are not fans of the overall exterior design, it is a real Jeep with all the necessary off-road genes. Its signature seven-slot grille and accent colored shield surround body-color vertical windshield and large circular headlamps provide visual strength to the vehicle when seen from the front and the Renegade displays a powerful stance with aggressive wheel-to-body proportions.
“With its powerful stance, rugged body forms and aggressive proportions, the all-new Renegade is pure Jeep design – styled for best-in-class off-road capability and a symbol of American design and ingenuity,” says Mark Allen, Head of Jeep Design. “And with its city-friendly size and clever My Sky roof panel system inspired by the legendary Jeep Wrangler, Renegade will attract a new wave of youthful and adventurous customers around the world to the brand.”
This small SUV does look good on the road. The DLO is tall and seems to allow a lot of light into the product design-oriented interior.
Designed under the direction of Chrysler Group design director Klaus Busse, the Renegade’s all-new interior exudes an energetic appearance with a ‘Tek-Tonic’ design theme – intersections of soft and tactile forms with rugged and functional details, crafted in high-quality materials and inspired colors.
“The small SUV segment is a new segment for the Jeep brand and allowed us an opportunity to excite our new global customers with craftsmanship and versatility wrapped in colors, textures and styling that matches their thrill-seeking attitudes,” says Busse. “From technically styled elements, anodized interior accents, to colors and materials inspired from extreme sports equipment, the Renegade stands out in the segment.”
The interior design is simple, clear, and purposeful, using good quality plastic and colored inserts. The dashboard shows three clearly identified volumes for the driver, the passenger and the infotainment. The HMI design is also clear and simple, with strongly focused graphics. Overall the interior is far better resolved than the exterior design to our eyes.
With its product ambitions and newfound global design resources, Jeep — and the Chrysler Group in general — stand to make some very significant strides in design, both inside and out.
